National park in Croatia named Europe’s best without crowds 

Risnjak NP (Photo: Highonsteep/CC BY-SA 4.0)

A national park in Croatia’s Gorski Kotar region has been included among the best in Europe which has all the beauty but not the big crowds

Located in the mountainous region between Karlovac and Rijeka, Croatia’s Risnjak National Park has secured its place among the continent’s finest by the UK Guardian newspaper.

The Guardian recently published its list of the Five of Europe’s best national parks – with all the beauty but none of the crowds -and its recognition of Risnjak comes as no surprise to those who have had the privilege of visiting. 

From its rugged peaks to its tranquil forests and crystal-clear rivers, Risnjak, named after one its rarest residents, the lynx (ris), offers a sanctuary for both wildlife and weary souls alike.

The park encompasses the Risnjak and Snježnik massifs in the northern part of the Dinaric Alps and serves as a vital habitat for brown bears, wolves, and chamois. It boasts a diverse bird population including capercaillie and pygmy owls, as well as hosting 89 butterfly species and numerous wild orchids, Guardian writes.

Risnjak National Park

Visitors can explore various attractions such as the source of the Kupa river, accessible via Wonderful Butterfly Valley in a short 35-minute walk, or embark on the Leska educational path spanning three miles. For more adventurous hikers, there are 11 peaks to conquer, with Risnjak standing as the highest at 1,528 meters followed closely by Snježnik at 1,506 meters.

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The panoramic views extend across Istria, with the Adriatic Sea just 11 miles away, and even stretch as far as the Julian Alps in Slovenia.

Omladinsko Jezero

Five of Europe’s best national parks – with all the beauty but none of the crowds

1. Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, Spain
2. Mercantour, France
3. Eifel, Germany
4. Risnjak, Croatia
5. Peneda-Gerês, Portugal